After seeing what Georgia Tech's offense has done to every single defense it has faced this season, Virginia coach Mike London is grateful to have some extra time during a bye week to prepare his team for the Yellow Jackets' relentless triple option. The problem is bonus reps in practice can't guarantee a defense will stay disciplined and alert when Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson's whirling, now-you-see-it, now-you-don't carnival ride of an offensive attack is lined up across the field.

The triple-option offense is designed to sustain drives and control tempo. It also comes with a surprising number of big plays, and Georgia Tech got four critical ones Saturday night in a 28-23 victory over Virginia Tech. All four of Georgia Tech's scoring drives featured a play of at least 30 yards. The first was Josh Nesbitt's 51-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas in the first half, Nesbitt's only completion. Then came Nesbitt's 31-yard keeper and Jonathan Dwyer's 33-yard run in the third quarter as Georgia Tech took a 21-10 lead.

Play of the game Virginia Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant couldn't quite get to quarterback Josh Nesbitt as Nesbitt turned the corner on an 18-yard TD run, but Sturdivant made up for it. With Virginia Tech leading 20-17 and the Yellow Jackets facing fourth-and-7 from their 34-yard line, defensive tackle John Graves and defensive end Orion Martin flushed Nesbitt directly into Sturdivant's path. Sturdivant sacked Nesbitt to end the threat. Player of the game If there was any doubt heading into the game regarding which quarterback is supposed to lead Virginia Tech, Tyrod Taylor answered all those questions.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer felt compelled to make some final statements Tuesday regarding the chop-block controversy that has boiled over the last few days involving his team and Georgia Tech's football program. Beamer said he called Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson on Tuesday to apologize about a misstatement he made to media Monday regarding an alleged chop block on Virginia Tech free safety Kam Chancellor during Georgia Tech's final fourth-quarter touchdown run in its 28-23 win. Beamer said the play he was referring to actually took place in the third quarter during a 31-yard run by Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer felt compelled to make some final statements Tuesday regarding the chop-block controversy that has boiled over the last few days involving his team and Georgia Tech's football program. Beamer said he called Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson on Tuesday to apologize about a misstatement he made to media Monday regarding an alleged chop block on Virginia Tech free safety Kam Chancellor during Georgia Tech's final fourth-quarter touchdown run in its 28-23 win. Beamer said the play he was referring to actually took place in the third quarter during a 31-yard run by Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt.

Bryan Stinespring threw a headlock on his son. Then he cradled one daughter in his left arm and another in his right. You could tell. He didn't want to let go. Hard to blame him. After what must rank as the most trying week of his seven seasons as Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator, Stinespring wanted, needed even, to bask in Saturday's 20-17 victory over Georgia Tech with those he holds dearest. "People don't know what we're going through," said quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain, the Hokies' only assistant coach who spoke to reporters.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer felt compelled to make some final statements Tuesday regarding the chop-block controversy that has boiled over the last few days involving his team and Georgia Tech's football program. Beamer said he called Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson on Tuesday to apologize about a misstatement he made to media Monday regarding an alleged chop block on Virginia Tech free safety Kam Chancellor during Georgia Tech's final fourth-quarter touchdown run in its 28-23 win. Beamer said the play he was referring to actually took place in the third quarter during a 31-yard run by Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer felt compelled to make some final statements Tuesday regarding the chop-block controversy that has boiled over the last few days involving his team and Georgia Tech's football program. Beamer said he called Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson on Tuesday to apologize about a misstatement he made to media Monday regarding an alleged chop block on Virginia Tech free safety Kam Chancellor during Georgia Tech's final fourth-quarter touchdown run in its 28-23 win. Beamer said the play he was referring to actually took place in the third quarter during a 31-yard run by Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt.

As Georgia Tech's Anthony Allen tromped through Virginia's defense for a 12-yard gain on a third-and-5 play late in the fourth quarter, U.Va. coach Al Groh threw a clenched fist at thin air on the sideline. No other reaction would've been more appropriate given the circumstances. Groh's frustration mirrored the ineffectiveness of his defense in stopping No. 11 Georgia's Tech's relentless option Saturday in a 34-9 victory against U.Va. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for Georgia Tech in Charlottesville that dated back to 1990.

As Georgia Tech's Anthony Allen tromped through Virginia's defense for a 12-yard gain on a third-and-5 play late in the fourth quarter, U.Va. coach Al Groh threw a clenched fist at thin air on the sideline. No other reaction would've been more appropriate given the circumstances. Groh's frustration mirrored the ineffectiveness of his defense in stopping No. 11 Georgia's Tech's relentless option Saturday in a 34-9 victory against U.Va.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson outfoxed one of college football's sharpest defensive minds last week against Virginia Tech. Saturday at Virginia, he'll challenge another. Johnson foiled Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster with a halftime blocking adjustment that transformed the Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense from toothless to menacing. Virginia Tech could not counter as Georgia Tech rushed for 272 yards in the second half of a 28-23 victory that dashed the Hokies' national aspirations and established the Jackets as favorites to win the ACC Coastal Division.

Every Monday morning, Virginia Tech's players are handed a roughly 40-page packet that shows base formations, tendencies and go-to plays for the coming week's opponent. After getting a good look at Georgia Tech's unique triple option last year, Virginia Tech linebacker Cody Grimm decided early on he was going to spend very little time flipping through the Yellow Jackets' packet. Grimm realizes heading in to his second look at Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson's offense that you can often think you know what's coming, and still wind up grabbing at air. "Against Georgia Tech, their stuff is kind of unpredictable," said Grimm, who had three tackles and an interception last season in Virginia Tech's 20-17 win against Georgia Tech.

In the last four years, Will Barker has participated in his fair share of big games for Virginia, but none may be bigger in terms of regaining at least some level of large-scale respect for the football program than Saturday's game against No. 11 Georgia Tech. After losing three straight games to start the season, and bouncing back to win its next three games, U.Va. (3-3 overall, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has a perfect statement opportunity ahead of it. Thus far, U.Va. could almost be considered the accidental first-place team in the Coastal Division - a team that has played fewer conference games than nine other teams in the ACC so far and has beaten up on North Carolina and Maryland, which have both looked pitiful at times this season.

In the last four years, Will Barker has participated in his fair share of big games for Virginia, but none may be bigger in terms of regaining at least some level of large-scale respect for the football program than Saturday's game against No. 11 Georgia Tech. After losing three straight games to start the season, and bouncing back to win its next three games, U.Va. (3-3 overall, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has a perfect statement opportunity ahead of it. Thus far, U.Va. could almost be considered the accidental first-place team in the Coastal Division - a team that has played fewer conference games than nine other teams in the ACC so far and has beaten up on North Carolina and Maryland, which have both looked pitiful at times this season.